Will True Country Music Make A Comeback Without Deviations?

Joel McCoy · Post by **Joel McCoy** » 19 Jun 2014 11:10 am

Honestly, I think that the more music goes into the great Homogenizer of what remains of the record business...people will turn to what those company's EX-clude in an effort to be different, or just to find something with real worth. Modern country (and for me this goes for most "Country music made since the early to mid '80's with small exceptions..) is middle of the road crap that try's to be Pop Rock, but is afraid to be TOO aggressive in the Rock sense..and TOO afraid to be Country for fear of loosing what the company's have left after the whole industry went up in a mushroom cloud. Soon, all there will be in the mainstream is Pop of one flavour or another. It's all formula. I shake my head every time I hear another song about a damn dirt road, a girl and cold beer. Not that those are bad things...

Joel McCoy · Post by **Joel McCoy** » 19 Jun 2014 11:22 am

So, I guess my opinion is no..it wont unless the big company's see money to be made. That's what it all comes down to. You wanna make real money? go be a Blake Shelton (shivers..) or play what you love and let it be that. A labour of love and not a career.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 19 Jun 2014 3:27 pm

At least a few songs have been written about the "CRYING STEEL GUITAR". Could it be that a number of recording artists have drawn from this concept by singing exaggerated and melodramatic emotional lyrics? To name a few.. "WHY DON'T YOU STAY", "I TOLD YOU SO", "INDEPENDENCE DAY", and a host of others challenge the pedal steel in many ways. AMBER DIGBY took part in co-writing the song called "LIE TO HIM". Steel players have to play their finest to match her skills in vocalization.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 20 Jun 2014 7:25 am

It isn't difficult to become sidetracked as a steel guitarist if you become an agendum player who tends to book playing commitments too far in the future. No one can say for sure what lies ahead up around the next bend in the road. Booking agents have turned many would-be job opportunities upside down. This situation occurs when the agents book big sellout shows months in advance. Keen observations reveal that the big shows leave much to be desired. How do you explain the huge flocking of crowds saving their nickels and pennies months in advance to cover the sky-high purchasing price of ticket sales. We are talking thousands of dollars funneling into the pockets of the rich and famous. No problem.. New England has its share of excellent country music performers. Developing a system to equal the strategies of promotional groups could provide employment for unemployed steel guitarists.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jun 2014 5:44 am

Just as trellisworks and roses will conceal what lies beyond the walkways of a dilapidated vacant country home, modern country music is comparable to weeds smothering the grass that once beautified the entranceway. It's becoming more obvious that discordance and modern machinery go hand in hand in tearing down what is left of music that has become dated. I wonder what will satisfy youthful musicians 100 years from now.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 22 Jun 2014 5:51 am

Given that people are still playing music in the styles of the Carters or Jimmie Rodgers, I think it's safe to say there will be room to eke a living playing music one likes, but if one wants to get rich, you're gonna have to cater to the flavor of the month.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 22 Jun 2014 7:47 am

I think the "Unforgettable Ira Louvin" was released after his death. There's steel on many tracks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKQwkxh ... T6jXlV7Epl
I hope it can be seen from the U.S. and other countires, no chance here.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 22 Jun 2014 9:25 am

Bill leigh lived in Glasgow. And I didn't see that particular Amber show but I have seen her at the ET Midnight Jamboree when I was in town. I do like her singing.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 22 Jun 2014 10:13 am

Joe,

I have a few 45's of Leigh that he made especially for me when he lived in N. Carolina. We chatted frequently by phone before he moved away. I was playing a few good instrumentals at that time. He recorded Webb Pierce's "I'm Tired" for me.

AMBER DIGBY'S pitch is faultless! She sings, "Heart I'm Ashamed Of You" and "Lie To Him" with some of the finest country music flavor I've ever heard.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 22 Jun 2014 5:01 pm

Geoff Noble wrote:...
As for the Pedal Steel, it'll never die, it's just sounds too beautiful and people love to hear it, whether it's Country or otherwise

I haven't finished reading this thread, but that statement deserves a "hear, hear."

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jun 2014 7:36 am

Herb,

Rest assured Geoff's comments didn't go unnoticed. I was very pleased to read his mindful words on the subject matter. Thank you Herb for pointing out Geoff's commitment to the pedal steel guitar's future.

Stan Knowles NC · Post by **Stan Knowles NC** » 23 Jun 2014 11:42 am

This is MY opinion...but it's BASED on what I learned
as a national and international broadcaster of the
"Country Crossroads" radio show with Jerry Clower and
Bill Mack (syndicated on 1,500 stations weekly-now
defunct after 40 years on the air)...and as a country
performer (singer, lead and steel player.)

I learned quickly, being an integral part of the business...that...what the listeners like... what
juke box plays indicate...or what radio listeners
request....it ALL has NOTHING to DO with how the
"commercial country music business" operates!

All the shots are called by the major record labels
(who incidentally control most of the smaller, under-
ling record labels.)

They ALWAYS set their sights on where the money is
coming from. And that is what happened to REAL
country music!

The big record moguls (controlled from Madison
Avenue in New York) saw that rock and roll was
bringing in millions and millions of dollars -
whereas COUNTRY music was only making a pittance
for them)...they decided to aim at the KIDS who
were spending their (or their parents') money
to buy rock and roll cd's...and going to rock
venues.....so.....by canning the older, established
acts, including the big ones...and bringing on
board and promoting the young performers....they
could rake in the millions of dollars they
were greedily seeking!

The ANSWER..."We'll put a cowboy hat on ROCK AND ROLL
...and we'll call it 'COUNTRY'!"

And....THEY "DID IT!" And frankly, they don't care
what ANYBODY says or does.....they are laughing all
the way to the bank!

And, while I am not a pessimist...I am a realist!
I think we will never get REAL COUNTRY MUSIC back!

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 23 Jun 2014 2:41 pm

Stan Knowles,

Thanks for pointing out some of the many reasons for the recent slump in record sales of traditional country music. Trends have been known to go like gangbusters for a time as rock 'em and sock 'em groups are doing to bona fides standard country music at the present time. If sponsors of the current mad rush for concert country/rock tickets can continue to dupe young Americans, it could take some time for them to realize that they have helped to waste a great American tradition. More than likely, they will hear eventually from true country music devotees, make mine country.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 23 Jun 2014 2:57 pm

Will True Country Music Make A Comeback Without Deviations?

NO

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 23 Jun 2014 3:16 pm

" this music now days ain't too bad, but they need to find another name for it, because it sure ain't country"

~George Jones~

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 23 Jun 2014 3:19 pm

Ok here is the BIG question. What exactly is true Country Music? Is it the Carter Family? Is it Roy Acuff? Is it Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Merle Kilgore, or Hank Williams. How about Bob Luman, The Louvins, Ray Price, Lefty Frizzell, Dottie West, Patsy Cline, or Loretta Lynn. When Hank Jr. came on the scene people didn't think he was country but by today's music he is for sure. The music evolves as it shows from the Carters and Jimmie Rodgers to Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb and way on up to Dwight Yoakum and Jason Aldean and all those in between. I will admit I don't care much for what is out there these days and that is probably because like a lot of members on here I am a bit of a dinosaur. So the band I am in plays what we like whether it is a Haggard tune, or a Darius Rucker tune or a Fleetwood Mac or Queen song. If we like it we play it and try not to let that steel door slam shut in our minds blocking out all we think is bad. I will quit ranting and let the flaming begin.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 24 Jun 2014 5:39 am

The Country music of today is filled with wanna be Rockers who couldn't make it in that field. However they are the most successful called country acts as far as $$$ and concert value ever. So as long as the market demands they will continue to be.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 24 Jun 2014 6:09 am

It will make a comeback but the comeback shall not only have deviation, but also repetition and hesitations.
But it'll always be around.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 24 Jun 2014 6:21 am

It is very difficult to find TRUE COUNTRY MUSIC coming from recording studios these days. Choir groups have all but ruined the chances of sorting out the good from the mediocre. Overbearing drummers with their domineering crashing and thumping of excessive volume levels control the chances of a song developing into a listenable recording; and is worthy of mention. There is plenty of proof to be found by listening to a few boom boxes. It is there that country music moves to another part of town.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 24 Jun 2014 6:24 am

Yet my question goes unanswered. What is the definition of true country music?

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 24 Jun 2014 6:30 am

Craig A Davidson wrote:Yet my question goes unanswered. What is the definition of true country music?

It's the music you liked before you got married.

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 24 Jun 2014 6:37 am

Craig, Now a days it's whatever promoters and producers and labels want to call it.

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 24 Jun 2014 6:48 am

Craig,

Have you listened to AMBER DIGBY? She is true country. If you like country music, you'll like her performances. Dicky Overbey has recorded with AMBER in the past.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 24 Jun 2014 6:48 am

I ask because when I was growing up I couldn't get enough Hank,Buck, and Merle. But to me Roy Acuff was terrible. The generation before me adored Roy Acuff and The Skillett Lickers and such. So is it a case of age? The new generation isn't into Merle as much as they are Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney or all the Bro Country boys. I am in the middle of this and can't stand a lot of the stuff from either side of my generation.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 24 Jun 2014 6:55 am

Craig, I think you'll have to recognize that the term has a flexible definition, but generally reflects a deliberate turn from appealing to the tastes of the broader culture.
In the 60s, Skeeter Davis and Patsy Cline represent pop, while Kay Adams and Norma Jean would be on the good side. Early Jim Reeves, Real. Late Reeves, pop.
Early Ray Price, Real. 67-81, pop.
Paycheck before 71, real. After, pop.
Shania Twain Whose Bed and Any Man of Mime, real. Almost every other single, pop.
Bradley Kincaid, real. Vernon Dalhart, pop

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Will True Country Music Make A Comeback Without Deviations?

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